How to connect your camera screen to your laptop?

By this I mean how would you be able to see what you're recording if you're recording yourself. I'm getting the Nikon 5300 pretty soon and I was wondering how would I be able to see myself when I'm recording myself. I've always wanted to make silly videos with friends or mini movies just for the fun of it but I'm not sure how I would set it up so that I could see what I was recording while the camera screen faces away from me. Now I've heard of external screens though those can be expensive. Are there computer programs to stream what your recording onto your computer so you can see yourself?

Your camera has a HDMI connector that can be connected to a monitor with a HDMI input.

The D5300 has a fully articulated screen which means that you can turn it to be seen from the front.

Find a budget computer monitor with HDMI input and use this as a 'field monitor' for the camera.

DSLR vs CAMCORDER RANT

Your first problem - you are buying a still-photograph camera with some video features added in as an afterthought. But your declared use is for video.

Some things you need to worry about:

* Many settings are buried in menus or on dials which will shake the camera if used. This is fine to setup for a snapshot, but horrible for video.

* DSLR's over-heat with video so you can't do video shots over… 15 minutes before the camera shuts down.

* Auto Focus - does not work well while a DSLR is shooting video. The AF sensor requires the mirror to be down or pre-shot. Then when you start recording video it can make some adjustments but it is not as good as the pre-shot sensor.

* Lens: As soon as you get your DSLR - you start lusting after more lens's. You want a Macro and a Telephoto and you need filters for each, and cases for each and a bag to hold everything and… A DSLR is a 'hole' into which you throw all your money for many months afterwards on accessories.

A $200 Camcorder is designed for a different mission: Video. It is built to solve all of these problems. And this is cheaper than 1 additional factory lens for that Nikon. It is usually a better, easier starting place than a DSLR if you are doing video.

Tethering. It's not popular with point-and-shoots.